Read a full match report of the FA Cup third-round game between Swansea City
and Arsenal at Liberty Stadium on Sunday Jan 6, 2013.

After a painfully predictable passing fest before the interval, the game came to light with Danny Graham grabbing Swansea a draw in the final throes, after Lukas Podolski and Kieran Gibbs had silenced a Swansea crowd who saw substitute Michu put their side ahead.

Great stuff in the end and a potentially mouthwatering reply.

Michael Laudrup had spoken in midweek of Theo Walcott’s pace and obvious danger and it took a decisive and typically robust challenge from Chico Flores to deny the England striker an early chance.

Arsenal had plenty of possession, as they had in the Premier League game at the Emirates earlier in the season. Swansea won that day, with two goals from Michu, who Laudrup left on the bench on this occasion.

However, even without their leading scorer, the hosts signalled their intention in the 10th minute when Nathan Dyer’s cross was hurriedly cleared by Per Mertesacker.

Graham, the subject of plenty of transfer speculation of late, was twice caught offside, perhaps a little harshly, before bringing out the best in Wojciech Szczesny.

A typically precise delivery from Leon Britton provided the opportunity, with Szczesny at full stretch to beat away Graham’s 20-yard strike.

Wayne Routledge sliced wide as Swansea came again and, though Arsenal were certainly not short of possession, they found Swansea’s back four a difficult nut to crack.

Even without captain Ashley Williams, they were compact and consistently aware of the danger, with Bartley a tower of strength throughout.

Walcott and Olivier Giroud did fashion one chance, at the end of the first quarter, but when the former struck for goal, it was Bartley who headed clear. Five minutes later, the defender pushed forward and headed a Jonathan de Guzman free-kick against the Arsenal bar, with Szczesny beaten.

Santi Cazorla’s shot on the turn, two minutes before the interval, was Arsenal’s next-best chance until Giroud was presented with two chances within the space of as many second-half minutes. Michel Vorm, who had been a virtual spectator, twice came to the rescue with smart stops at his near post.

Arsenal had a genuine claim for a penalty in the 51st minute when Ramsey was clearly tripped as he fought to cut across Tiendalli.

By now Arsenal were rampant and Giround once again bought out the best in Vorm, this time from point blank range. It called for a change of personnel from Swansea. Laudrup called for Michu, who had scored twice at the Emirates, and the Spaniard did the trick with his first touch.

Graham worked tirelessly to win the ball and when Michu clipped the ball into space, there was only ever one outcome. Szczesny did his best to close him down, but Michu made no mistake.

Arsene Wenger threw on Podolski for the final 18 minutes and it certainly did the trick. Swansea failed to clear a corner 10 minutes from time and the German spun and beat Vorm with a clinical strike from a dozen yards.

Then the second, two minutes later. A crisp exchange of passes with Giroud in the Swansea box gave Gibbs an acre of space and the full-back volleyed spectacularly past Vorm.

Swansea left it late to snatch a share against Villa last week and they did it again when Graham appeared at the far post from a corner to beat Szczesny from close range.